Wind Could Power Europe Many Times Over

[bananas]

Wind Could Power Europe Many Times Over
June 16, 2009
Brussels, Belgium

A new report from the European Environment Agency has concluded that wind power's potential in 2020 is as much as three times greater than Europe's expected electricity demand, rising to a factor of up to seven times demand by 2030.

"The EEA clearly recognizes that wind power will be key to Europe's energy future. Now that oil prices are again on the rise, the EEA report sends a reminder to Europe's policy makers that wind power is a clean and proven energy technology and Europe is the world leader," Christian Kjaer, EWEA CEO.

This study confirms that wind energy can play a major role in achieving the European renewable energy targets and that the extent of wind energy resources in Europe is very considerable. The report, ‘Europe's onshore and offshore wind energy potential,' highlights that the wind energy potential is huge, equivalent to almost 20 times energy demand in 2020. Onshore wind energy potential is concentrated in agricultural and industrial areas of north-western Europe. Likewise, the largest offshore potential can be found in low depth areas in the North Sea, the Baltic Seas and the Atlantic Ocean, with some local opportunities in areas of the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

<snip>

When production costs are compared to baseline average electricity generation costs, the onshore potential for wind decreases to 9600 TWh in 2020, whereas offshore wind potential decreases to 2600 TWh. Despite being a small proportion of the total technical potential, the economically competitive wind energy potential still amounts to more than three times projected demand in 2020.

<snip>

The EEA report can be found here http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/europes-onshore-and-offshore-wind-energy-potential

[NNadir]

1. After years and years and years and years of "could" posts like this one

the dogmatic fundie anti-nuke cults have not developed a sense of dignity.

When, exactly, did this wind "could" power Europe, Asia, Venus, Uranus and Pluto talk start here?

This is, um, a revelation?

Is this supposed to be an original post or is sort of like saying 5,555,555,555,555 Hail Marys over a period of 2000 years in preparation for the return of Jesus?

[The Croquist]

2. Good to see you NNadir

Making friends as usual.

Wind power has a long successful history in the world dating back at least 5,000 years. Over the next 4,800 or so years wind power provided the energy man used successfully to travel the worlds oceans, trading, raping, murdering and enslaving countless numbers of people.

Why wind power was what got Ferdinand Magellan's expedition successfully around the world in only 3 years, 4 ships, 219 sailors and God knows how many other lives lost.

but at least they didn't leave a carbon footprint!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bananas]

3. There's a great comment on one of his dailykos diaries

Since it's ok for NNadir to link to his dailykos diaries,
it should be ok for me to point out this comment by "NRG Guy" on one of NNadir's diaries:

change the subject

You are a math idiot who attacks others for their so called failure to understand math. You are off by a factor of 1000 in your calculation. It's not the fact of the error (although your arrogance means you should meet a higher standard), but it's the fact that it was so obviously an error because of the comparison to gasoline energy content. Anyone with any grasp of energy numbers should have noticed the mistake, but you are apparently not in that camp.

I actually have a good grasp of numbers. I am a scientist working in the field of energy and have published a number of peer reviewed papers on a wide range of topics. I am often hired for my expertise in statistics and data analysis by companies and government agencies and turn down much more work than I accept. The statistics software that I use for data analysis thanks me a couple of times in their manuals for helping improve their code.

On the other hand, you make frequent errors and some of your errors have actually been the main point of your diaries (windmill lifetimes, anyone?) You are a pretentious and self-absorbed joke of a pseudo-scientist.

by NRG Guy on Fri Apr 24, 2009 at 03:14:17 PM PDT

[The Croquist]

4. Self Delete